The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, April 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I L B A G

Indo-Pak stand-off: fifth option will help us

I have been following with great interest the numerous debates on TV, articles in various magazines and so many letters to the newspapers regarding the various options available to India in reply to the proxy-war and the crossborder terrorism that Pakistan is waging against us. The proper action to be taken assumes much greater importance after the last attack on our Parliament.

The options that have been generally discussed are: hot pursuit of the terrorists into POK/Pakistan; dropping of commandos at the terrorist centres in POK/Pakistan; missile strikes at the terrorist centres in POK/Pakistan; and an all-out war with Pakistan to settle the matter once and for all.

From the above options, it will be seen that all of them are hot and active options, and I am surprised that no one has come up with the fifth option, which would be the most effective in the present circumstances and in addition is a passive measure. If this option is exercised, India would reap rich dividends and Pakistan would be brought to her knees in 3-6 months time without firing a shot.

If at all the situation gets hot and Pakistan is unable to withstand the pressure and is forced to wage hostilities on us, then the blame would be entirely on Pakistan. The fifth option lies in blockading all the Pakistani ports to completely strangle her sea trade. As is common knowledge, this was done passively with excellent results in the 60s when the USA had blockaded Cuba until its aim was achieved.

India had similarly carried out active blockading of the Pakistani ports during the 1971 operations when I had the privilege to see the wonderful effects of this action. Passive blockade taken at this juncture would be the correct reply to the various Pakistani perfidies. This blockade can be further classified into two sections. First, we must allow only ships carrying essential goods to enter/leave the Pakistani ports. (This is what Israel has been doing for years when ships enter the Gulf of Aqaba) and are required to declare their cargo, and are subject to a search in case of any doubt. Ships having objectionable cargoes are just not permitted to enter the Gulf of Aqaba. Alternately, tougher action can be enforced by just not allowing any ship to enter/leave any Pakistani port.

Capt V.S. KATOCH, New Delhi

Rampant corruption

I want to share a few thoughts with your goodself during the past few days on how corruption has vitiated our system in every sphere of activity. Our forefathers and freedom fighters laid their lives to save the country and countrymen. It is very easy to establish any institution, but it is very difficult to run them smoothly. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution, never dreamt that his countrymen will misuse the Constitution.

I was stunned to read about the involvement of PPSC Chairman Ravi Sidhu in a corruption case. If the person who selected judges, magistrates, police officers, doctors and professors is himself a cheat, then what will be the position of others?

Punjab government officers have done a marvellous job by catching the big crocodile from the sea of corruption. I congratulate the persons who were instrumental in catching the big bull and they should be suitably rewarded.

Corrupt officers are no less than terrorists, but are more responsible for creating terrorism which is ruining the future of the youth. I am now more than 80 years old and am on the fag end of my life. I am shocked to learn that nowadays corruption is rampant in every sphere of life.

Maj J.K. PRITAM SINGH (retd), Mohali

Stay recruitments

Now when the integrity of the Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission is under cloud, the candidates selected/appointed by the Commission should also be kept in abeyance.

It is suspected that some of them might have greased the palms of the Chairman or his touts for selection. Indulging in bribery is also an offence.

C.L. ARORA, Ferozepore